<figure id="attachment_408376" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408376" style="width: 4928px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7ce501cc"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/895f31548c69fed7d7e3bbec8c63eda7.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408376" class="wp-caption-text">The &#8220;90 million yen settlement fee trouble&#8221; is having a major ripple effect in various areas. It seems that the effects of the trouble are spreading to unexpected places.</figcaption></figure>
<p> Masahiro Nakai (52) has finally decided to suspend all commercials and regular TV and radio programs. The year before last, he had a trouble with a woman in the entertainment business, and it is reported that he later paid 90 million yen as a settlement. Citing confidentiality, Nakai has not said much, but on the evening of January 9, he said, &#8220;It is true that there was trouble. It is also true that a settlement has been reached through the representatives of both parties and that the matter has been resolved.</p>
<p> He also commented, &#8220;Now that a settlement has been reached, I will be able to continue my future entertainment activities without hindrance. However, &#8220;Nakai will essentially be forced to suspend his activities,&#8221; said a source at an entertainment agency.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> TV Asahi commented on Nakai&#8217;s appearance on &#8220;Masahiro Nakai&#8217;s Saturday Night Party,&#8221; saying, &#8220;The truth of this situation is still unclear, so it is suspended for the time being. TBS announced, &#8220;In accordance with the human rights policy of the TBS Group, we are confirming the facts with the representatives of both parties,&#8221; and other stations are following suit. As evidenced by commercial sponsors who have taken a firm stance against sexual assault in recent years, it will be difficult to use Nakai in the media in the future, given his loss of favorability.</span></p>
<p> Fuji Television Network, which is in the middle of the vortex, announced on March 9, &#8220;It was also reported that Fuji Television employees were involved in this trouble at first, but Fuji Television has issued a comment denying this. Since last year, we have been continuing our response, including fact-checking. Fuji TV reiterated its stance of no involvement.</p>
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<h3><span class="strongInContent"> Katori&#8217;s recording was abruptly canceled.&#8221;</span></h3>
<p> However, the uproar shows no sign of abating. On the contrary, the effects of the riots have even affected the work of former &#8220;SMAP&#8221; members. Fuji Television has reportedly cut the schedule of Shingo Katori (47), who had been invited to be a guest on a story show, as a result of the recent turmoil. A source in the entertainment industry continues, &#8220;A late-night variety show, &#8216;Hachitaro.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> A source close to the entertainment industry continues, &#8220;In early January, Katori was invited to be a guest on the late-night variety show Hachimitsu! a late-night variety show, was abruptly cancelled in early January. Fuji Television explained the reason for the cancellation, saying, &#8220;Mr. Katori&#8217;s appearance was cancelled because he would be associated with Masahiro Nakai. The team made adjustments in the direction of switching to an alternative recording, but in the end, the recording itself had to be cancelled. I was surprised that it had such an impact.</span></p>
<p> In response to FRIDAY Digital&#8217;s inquiry, Fuji Television&#8217;s Public Relations and Advertising Department asked, &#8220;Is it true that Katori&#8217;s recording was canceled due to Nakai&#8217;s troubles?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> In response to a letter of inquiry from FRIDAY Digital, Fuji Television&#8217;s Public Relations and Advertising Department responded, &#8220;There is no fact that such a recording had been decided in the first place, nor is there any fact that an explanation of the kind you have pointed out was given.</span></p>
<p> The company responded.</p>
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<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Names of allies listed as alternative programs"></div>
<h3><span class="strongInContent">MC Candidates&#8221; Rising to Fill Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling Filling</span></h3>
<p> While other stations were busy dealing with the situation, NTV was the last of the terrestrial regulars scheduled to air the program. However, the New Year&#8217;s special program of &#8220;The World Oyoten News,&#8221; scheduled for January 7, will not be aired until the last day of the New Year! Sekai Ohten News&#8221; scheduled for January 7, it was announced at the last minute that &#8220;all of Nakai&#8217;s scenes would be cut. A source at the station reveals the story behind the decision.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> One of Nippon TV&#8217;s staff members, who is also close to Nakai, was exploring the possibility of airing the special until the last minute. However, after receiving a call from Nakai, who was dismayed by the &#8220;Shukan Bunshun&#8221; interview, the broadcast of the scenes in which he appeared was abandoned as a result of discussions. In fact, when the decision was made to cut all of Nakai&#8217;s scenes, his good friend Shofukutei Tsurube (73) objected, saying, &#8220;This is no joke,&#8221; but the staff explained and convinced him. There is already a proposal to renew the show by inviting Kazushige Nagashima (58) and Hiromi (59) to replace the MC of &#8220;Gyoten.</span></p>
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<p> Nakai continues to hide behind a cloud, but what is worrisome is the fate of the penalty money. Some reports say that Softbank&#8217;s penalty alone is 1 billion yen, but Nakai is now a private firm. Can he withstand such a huge penalty? Kunitake Kawanishi, a lawyer at Ray Law Offices who specializes in entertainment troubles, explains.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> In conclusion, I think it is very likely that there will be no penalty. The difference between this case and that of Hitoshi Matsumoto (61) is that in Matsumoto&#8217;s case there was no agreement at all between the two parties. In Mr. Nakai&#8217;s case, however, he has reached a settlement with the woman, and the woman is not actively claiming damage in this case. The possibility of a criminal case is low, and the decision is based solely on the reports in some weekly magazines and the series of events in the world. In that case, legally speaking, it is a &#8220;voluntary decision&#8221; of the sponsor, and therefore, there is no penalty fee.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> However, although there is no legal obligation to do so, there is a possibility that Mr. Nakai will voluntarily give up his position. In the case of TV commercials, most of the contracts are for six months or a year, and there is a possibility that Mr. Nakai will pay back the contract fee on a pro-rata basis. In such cases, there is a possibility that Mr. Nakai will pay back more than a simple daily rate in light of the impact of the media coverage.</span></p>
<p> It has been pointed out that the &#8220;continue performing&#8221; stance shown in the apology statement is a technique for avoiding penalty payments. The aftermath of the trouble involving a national star continues to spread to various parts of the country.</p>
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 Shinji Hasuo

 Masahiro Nakai's "90 million yen settlement fee trouble" continues to cause ripples in various areas. It seems that its influence has finally begun to reach the former "SMAP" members. We will report in detail on how each station is handling the situation and the whereabouts of the penalty money that is of concern.

Even Shingo Katori&#8217;s recording was abruptly cancelled&#8230; &#8220;Fuji TV&#8217;s Unorthodox Response&#8221; to Masahiro Nakai&#8217;s Trouble and &#8220;Whereabouts of the High Penalty Fee&#8221;.

Even Shingo Katori’s recording was abruptly cancelled… “Fuji TV’s Unorthodox Response” to Masahiro Nakai’s Trouble and “Whereabouts of the High Penalty Fee”.

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